For the 12th consecutive month the Miami Association of Realtors notes Brazilians having the highest number of searches for local real estate on their website. During the month of May the heaviest search volume was followed by Colombians, Canadians, Venezuelans, and lastly, Argentinians. I will agree with those statistics, and add one country: Mexico!

The luxury properties I have listed in Coral Gables and the Ponce & Davis Roads neighborhoods have been most frequently visited this summer by families from Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, and Mexico. If you are looking for a luxury home in Miami consider one of my current listings, and stay tuned in the next couple weeks for more!

Last week I attended a broker’s brunch and sneak preview of The Collection Residences, which is a gorgeous residential development on the horizon in Coral Gables. As you would guess The Collection Residences will be adjacent to the world-class Collection automobile showrooms and the Village of Merrick Park. That’s a lot of luxury!

The Collection Residences are the collaborative efforts of Ugo Colombo and Masoud Shojaee (CMC Group and Shoma Group respectively), with Massimo Iosa Ghini, Duany Plater-Zyberk, and Arquitectonica leading the design team. The 10-story building will have 126 units that range from 1120sf to 6144sf; prices will begin at $650,000 for one bedroom units, $1,200,000 and $2,000,000ish for two and three bedroom units, and the four bedroom / 6,144sf penthouses residences will begin around $5,700,000.

One of the coolest features of The Collection Residences is that the first floor level will be comprised of 14 beautiful townhomes which have mixed use zoning, so one can operate an office or retail space, have signage if desired, and off-street parking available to clients. Imagine being a designer, clothier, or professional living and working in the same environment! That’s genius!

Plans call for reservations to begin this fall, ground breaking to begin next spring (2016), and completion is expected in the winter of 2017. Floor plans are attached for you to peruse, and if you would like more information or a tour of the show room please call me!

1A | 1 Bedroom

1B | 1 Bedroom

2A | 2 Bedroom

2B | 2 Bedroom

2C | 2 Bedroom

3A | 3 Bedroom

3B | 3 Bedroom

3C | 3 Bedroom

Townhome Residence

Learn more about The Collection Residences and other real estate in Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, South Miami, Ponce/Davis Estates, Pinecrest, and Palmetto Bay by contacting Val Byrneat [email protected]or at 305-323-6231. Val Byrne & Associates– Working For You!

The Real Deal’s recent article, “After the game: NBA stars shoot for wins in real estate” captured a day in the off-season life of Luol Deng and 10 other NBA players who attended a symposium on real estate investing organized by the National Basketball Players Association (with guest speaker, Miami’s own Don Peebles).

Miami Heat players have traditionally invested in some serious local real estate with those investing in Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, and Pinecrest appreciating the ability to maintain a relatively low-key lifestyle (for local celebrities anyway).

Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, and Pinecrest have been home to a host of Heat players including Dwayne Wade (he began his career in Pinecrest), Alonzo Mourning (he migrated from Coconut Grove to Gables Estates, and is now settled in Pinecrest), Shane Battier, Ray Allen, Dan Majerle, Brian Grant (my all time fav), past and present coaches Eric Spoelstra and Pat Riley, and LeGone James, who’s bayfront home is under contract.

The beauty of these neighborhoods is that you can see these guys regularly at the Last Carrot, Greenstreet’s Cafe, MCycle, local gas stations, movie theaters, and even Food Spot, and no one blinks an eye (but I do stare sometimes).

Wouldn’t it be great if Luol Deng moved into the Grove, Gables, or Pinecrest! I have the perfect place for him to call home:

For the Buyer who wants it all! Indulge yourself with this completely and beautifully updated home in Pinecrest’s premier gated community with 24-hour security, a community park, and the finest public and private schools moments away. It’s the very definition of ‘turn key’!

Property Details:

Learn more about real estate in Pinecrest, South Miami, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, and Palmetto Bay, by contacting Val Byrne & Associates at [email protected] or at 305-323-6231. Val Byrne – Working For You!

7130 SW 55th Terrace in Bridgepoint

3 Bedrooms | 2.5 Baths

List Price:$458,495

6250 SW 62nd Place

4 Bedrooms | 3 Baths

List Price: $510,000

Congratulations to the two lucky Buyers who’s perseverance and tenacity paid off! The new Buyer in Bridgepoint spent almost two years looking for the right home, and that includes almost a half dozen offers we made on other properties in South Miami and Coral Gables! The new owner of 6250 SW 62nd Place had a similar experience – we began the search in Coral Gables, Brickell, and the Edgewater area off Biscayne Boulevard in October 2014, and low and behold found just the right place many months later! It was worth the wait for both!

To learn more about real estate in South Miami, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Pinecrest and Palmetto Bay, contact Val Byrne at [email protected] or at 305-323-6231. Val Byrne & Associates – Working For You!

A couple of the ‘players’ spoke on-the-record, and it’s no surprise one of them was EWM’s President, Ron Shuffield, who is undoubtedly the backbone behind the “Best Brokerage” as voted by real estate watchers in the same poll. (BTW, it is an absolute honor and pleasure to work for EWM Realty International). Before I name a few of the highlights and opinions noted in that article I need to point out the backdrop in Ron’s picture. Yes, the Miami Herald interviewed Ron at 181 Leucadendra Drive in Gables Estates, a beautiful residence I recently listed. If you would like more information about that property or would like to see more pictures please visit www.181leucadendra.com or call me for an appointment to see this magnificent property (Alan Potamkin’s recently listed home at 1 Casuarina Concourse is pretty magnificent too).

•70% of industry professionals think residential home values will continue to rise over the next year (at a slower rate).

•72% of industry professionals do not believe Miami real estate is in another ‘bubble’.

•Buyers want homes within walking distance of restaurants and shops, and people are making their home buying decisions based on the traffic.

Learn more about real estate in Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, South Miami, Pinecrest and Palmetto Bay, by contacting Val Byrne at [email protected] or at 305-323-6231. Val Byrne & Associates– Working For

Another uber luxurious home went on the market in Gables Estates yesterday: 1 Casuarina Concourse made it’s official debut at $67,000,000. It’s officially the highest priced home in Gables Estates, followed by 110 Arvida Parkway which is listed at $35,000,000, and my recent listing at 181 Leucadendra Drive which is offered at $22,500,000.

Currently owned and built by Alan Potamkin in 2000, the Casuarina home boasts 20,862 square feet, and 937 feet of water frontage on over three acres. I’ve been to the house on a couple of occasions and of course it is over-the-top beautiful, but the stand-out feature to me are the most magnificent collection of trees on the property.

181 Leucadendra Drive in Gables Estates

For the luxury Buyer not ready to shell out $67,000,000 my listing at 181 Leucadendra is a stand-out gorgeous home of nearly 15,000 square feet (total sf is 17,500), and 270 feet of water frontage on over an acre of prime property. It is one of architect Cesar Molina’s greatest accomplishments.

Learn more about real estate in Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, South Miami, Pinecrest and Palmetto Bay, by contacting Val Byrne at [email protected] or at 305-323-6231. Val Byrne & Associates – Working For You!

I am a steadfast fan of staging an empty home when it’s for sale. Why? Because the difference between a “house” and a “home” is invaluable, especially in Miami’s very competitive, fast-moving real estate market. A home with artwork, floral arrangements, beautiful furnishings and accessories, and area rugs will engage Buyers – more so than a blank palette. The collaboration of a gifted ‘stager’, knowledgeable realtor, and motivated Seller will render the highest and best sale in the shortest amount of time.

Cloisters on the Bay, Villa #1137 “Before”

Cloisters on the Bay “After”

Recently, I had the ever so talented Jenny McCloskey stage homes that I had for sale in Cloisters on the Bay in Coconut Grove (3471 Main Highway), and another in Coral Gables. Both homes looked magnificent when completed and both sold shortly after being staged (and the Buyers asked if they could purchase some of the interior decorations!).

515 San Antonio Avenue, Coral Gables, FL

515 San Antonio Avenue, Coral Gables, FL

515 San Antonio Avenue, Coral Gables, FL

I am so excited to have another gorgeous home for sale that we will be staging next week! 5030 Davis Road (SW 80th Street) will get that touch of the magic wand that Jenny waves…wait till you see the “before” and “after” pictures! Casa Iluminada has attracted a lot of attention with it’s magnificent walls of glass, European kitchen,, Brazilian walnut floors, and amazing finishes. Stay tuned for the finale!

Casa Iluminada, 5030 Davis Road, Miami, FL

Casa Iluminada, 5030 Davis Road, Miami, FL

Casa Ilumindada, 5030 Davis Road, Miami, FL

Learn more about real estate in Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, South Miami, Pinecrest and Palmetto Bay, by contacting Val Byrne at [email protected] or at 305-323-6231. Val Byrne & Associates– Working For You!

Once again EWM Realty International ranks #1 in the number of homes sold over $1,000,000 in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. With $417,320,000 in sales of million dollar+ homes in the first quarter of 2015 Buyers and Sellers have chosen EWM over the competition! Bringing it down to a more simple reality, EWM Realtors sold a home in the $1mil+ range every 15 hours! I consider myself fortunate to be in such good company.

All indications of sales and pending sales in the neighborhoods I specialize in – Coral Gables, South Miami, Coconut Grove, Ponce/Davis corridor, Pinecrest, and Palmetto Bay – are pointing in the same direction for the second quarter! If I were to predict which $1,000,000+ properties I have listed were going to sell this quarter I would bank on these timeless, outstanding residences:

Learn more about real estate in Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, South Miami, Pinecrest and Palmetto Bay, by contacting Val Byrne at [email protected] or at 305-323-6231. Val Byrne & Associates– Working For You!